65 LeMans

[Thumpin455]

Nah, this is just small patches. The GTO had nothing left around the dash and window channels. I can have this done in one day, it isnt very extensive. Still need to pull the back glass, but I am leaving it in because its safer there. They are getting hard to find so I dont want it broken on accident. The rear channel repairs will be the last thing done before I paint it, that way once the paint is cured I can put the glass back in and be done with it.

Remember, this is how bad the other one was. This one is practically rust free compared to the GTO.

[Russell]

The dash is part of the cowl / window channel?

[Thumpin455]

The dash is part of the cowl / window channel?

Indeed it is.

[Thumpin455]

Welder and tin snips got a workout today. This one is going so much faster than the other one. Tomorrow I will do the quarters and start prepping it and the shop for primer. Need to do a few hours worth of grinding on welds, but after that its time to start shooting epoxy.





Upper part of the windshield channel just needed some welds.

[racingsnake440]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bmr-aa018r

Thanks, might look into them for my '64 F-85.

[Thumpin455]

Got the mighty 326/ST300 out of it. Building a Th400 to go behind the 455. Also patched both quarters today, and welded up some of the other stuff that had holes in it. I am getting lots faster at this kind of thing.

[SuperBuickGuy]

lookin good

[Deaf Bob]

You are flying!
Practice, better health, and knowing what to expect...
Plus this is your toy..

[cantvalve16]

Yea! Way to go, Thumpin!

[68scott385]

you make that look SO easy, and maybe it is, someday I will find out, the hard way of course

[Thumpin455]

Well its getting easier for me, and this one will probably look better than the GTO because it was better from the start. I am really enjoying this build, mostly because there is no pressure and I can just do what I like with it. Ordering some parts today, flexplate, shift kit, and some bolts. Might order a stall for the 70 GTO since it is going to TH400 too. Fuel mileage be damned, I want to drive something 455 powered this year!

I think I have a plan for the 326/ST300. T bucket built from scrap I have laying around. Another GTO guy said that sounds like a plan because a T bucket is little more than an engine stand you can drive. Ya never know, someone might want to buy the thing from me and finance my new shop in the process.

[Thumpin455]

Well, this one has to go faster now. The other shoe has dropped and Dave told me I need to move because of my mother in law. Not a big thing, I have been doing it as fast as I can, and Dave says I can have as much time as I need. The dude is doing right by me, so he will get to drive the GTO, but probably next year since this year I have too much other shit to do and he is too busy.

I had a Th400 from a 3/4 ton Chevy sitting here, it had been rebuilt before I bought it. I have a bunch of BOP cases so I picked one with a long shaft, stuck a spare short shaft in it, then moved the guts from the chevy to the BOP case. Summit is sending a shift kit, flexplate, and some stuff for the 70 GTO, so I have to wait on that stuff to get here before I can stuff the engine and trans in.

Here is the freshly swapped BOP case.



This is the 3000 stall I had from years ago that was in the 79 Formula for a while. Figured why not throw it in there and enjoy the launches.



Still need to get lots of other things done, but really it just needs to be painted and the glass put back in. The Mustang needs painted now too, unless someone will buy it as is and just haul it off. So its going to be busy around here for the next month or so, and I still have to find a place to live where I can keep my dogs. Shouldnt be too hard to do really. I have a place for the cars, and a storage unit is easy for the stuff in the house, tools, and all the parts I have here.

I wont be building over the winter, because I need to save money to buy some land and put up a shop. This place is going to be killer, all set up for what I do, and damn nice to work in all year. Starting from scratch means I can get it the way I want it, and not have to work around things I dont want. It might just be the best thing that has ever happened to me. Who would have thought that my wife taking off with some idiot kid that everyone lathes would be such a good thing for my life.

[racingsnake440]

I think I have a plan for the 326/ST300. T bucket built from scrap I have laying around. Another GTO guy said that sounds like a plan because a T bucket is little more than an engine stand you can drive. Ya never know, someone might want to buy the thing from me and finance my new shop in the process.

Sounds like a good plan!

[Thumpin455]

Looked at a piece of land with a crappy cabin on it today, put an offer down. Its about a mile from here and has more room than this place. Will need to build everything, but it has power already and some other stuff I can use in the shop. So put up a pole barn with an apartment first, then build a house the way I want it over the next few years. Who knew a wife leaving could lead to so much cool stuff?

Back to the LeMans...

Decided to get it running and paint it at the same time. Ludicrous? Probably. Eventually it will get either a new fuel tank or a cell, whichever is cheaper. I have some line already, so no need to buy more of it. Tomorrow back to body work and figuring out the brakes. Might order a MC and a prop valve and just make it work with the F body spindles. If it wont stop once its moving why do body work? It would be nice if I can have it moving under its own power with paint on it by Sept 1. I can do it easy, but I am really straining the budget because I need a down payment for the land soon... might end up selling a car or truck to finance something.

Finished the Th400 today, the parts from Summit came the next freakin day, its no wonder I like them. Stuck it behind the 455 and shoved both into the frame after cleaning things up a bit.

[milner351]

man you get a lot done in a short time - I like your air fitting in the intake!